Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Enter the Weather Master

Author's Note: Hello, everyone! It's my birthday, so as usual, I'm publishing something as my gift to you! This new Batman '66 story features a villain of my creation, the Weather Master, and I hope you'll enjoy it! On with part 1!

To Niechelle Corcuera—Happy Heavenly Anniversary, My Love

It's a busy afternoon at Woodrow Roosevelt High School's Science Fair, where learning and fun meet to benefit Gotham's youth outreach! Bruce, Dick, and Bonnie were strolling through the High School's gym while Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara stood in a corner near a cash box. Barbara Gordon, who attended with her father, noticed the trio and walked over with a smile on her face.

"It's good to see you again, Bruce," Barbara grinned.

"The same to you, Barbara," Bruce replied, kissing her hand as a sign of respect. "I'm always eager to support the education of Gotham's youth."

"And I've heard a lot about you too, Bonnie," Barbara continued, looking down at Bonnie. "I've heard that you've made quite the stir in Gotham's underworld."

"You mean Robin and I," Bonnie corrected her. "Robin is my idol. Dick Grayson is my everything." Dick blushed, causing Bonnie to give a mischievous giggle in response.

The foursome walked past several projects made by various teenagers, including one with a poster board about a tornado in a bottle.

"Reminds me of you in class," Bonnie giggled. "You go on and on like a whirlwind."

"Hey," Dick sighed. "I don't talk in class…that much."

The four friends strolled near Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara, who met them with open arms. Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara smiled as the group walked up to them.

"Sure an' it's always nice to see Bruce Wayne around here, right Commissioner?" Chief O'Hara grinned.

"It's a pleasure," Bruce Wayne replied. "To benefit youth is to prepare for the future."

"Truer words have never been spoken, Bruce," Commissioner Gordon smiled proudly as a slight wind began to blow in the gym, which only grew as time went on.

"It was getting warm in here," Barbara remarked, "but they didn't need to turn the air conditioner up this much."

The strange wind grew stronger as a laugh echoed around the gym's walls. Suddenly, rain began to blow throughout the room, throwing everyone into complete chaos.

"Bejabbers!" Chief O'Hara cried. "It's rainin' cats an' dogs!"

"What in heaven's name—?" Commissioner Gordon exclaimed over the rushing wind.

"An indoor rain storm?" Dick questioned. "Holy wacky weather!"

"That's impossible," Bonnie replied. "Nobody can make a rain storm happen indoors."

"That's where you're wrong, kiddo," a voice nearby chuckled. Bonnie gasped as she saw a man with unkempt hair in a white lab coat and goggles. The man was carrying a metallic box with several buttons in his hands, and he grabbed the cash box off the table that Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara were guarding. "Call me the Weather Master!" he called out, running towards the gymnasium's entrance. "Sorry to rain on your parade, but I must be going! Hahaha!"

"I'll have me men block off all exits!" Chief O'Hara exclaimed.

"No," Bruce said firmly. "There's no knowing what this scientific sycophant is capable of."

"For all we know," Dick added, "he could start a twister in here!"

"Yer right," Chief O'Hara admitted, then he gasped with realization. "Maybe we should call Batman and Robin!"

"A fine idea, Chief O'Hara," Bruce agreed. "In the meantime, Dick, Bonnie, and I should make our way back to Wayne Manor—Bonnie has some…homework that needs to get done. Education is the foundation of good citizenry."

"And I just realized that I have some things to take care of at my apartment," Barbara recalled, making her way towards Bruce and company.

"I'll walk you out, Barbara," Bruce offered.

"It's nice of you to offer that, Bruce," Barbara said, "but I think I can handle it on my own."

As the four friends walked out of the gymnasium while the rain storm slowed down, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara rushed over to Gotham City Police Headquarters.

Inside Commissioner Gordon's office, the aforementioned Commissioner, as well as his secretary Bonnie and Police Chief O'Hara, were watching the news on a television set.

"Gotham City is in complete chaos," a news anchor reported. "There's a drought in Gotham Park, huge rain storms are present over Gotham Lake, and snowstorms in Gotham Times Square."

"That's even crazier than the time Mr. Freeze froze over Gotham City," Commissioner Gordon gasped. "This Weather Master might be one of the most dangerous criminals the world has ever seen."

"You've got that right, Commissioner," Bonnie agreed. "I sure hope that Batman is seeing all of this."

"Knowing Batman," Commissioner Gordon replied, "I have no doubt that he has, Bonnie."

As Commissioner Gordon said this, Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden rushed into his office. Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, and Bonnie quickly turned to face them with relief on their faces.

"Batman!" Chief O'Hara said excitedly. "Yer a sight for sore eyes!"

"I heard what happened over in Woodrow Roosevelt High," Batman remarked, "and rushed over as soon as I could."

"The Weather Master has struck again," Commissioner Gordon told him, motioning over to the television. "He's caused disasters to happen all over Gotham City!"

"Holy tumultuous twisters!" Robin cried out, slapping his hand into his palm.

"We must track down his hideout," Batman said. "Get him at the source. Commissioner—are there any other locations around Gotham City that have been affected by the Weather Master's weird weather?"

Commissioner Gordon put a hand on his chin, lost in thought.

"Well, there's currently a thunderstorm over the Gotham Dunes National Park," the commissioner recalled softly, "and there's an enormous twister currently making its way through East Evergreen Street. Nobody has been harmed, Batman. We have sent evacuation orders to all affected locations."

"Excellent work, Commissioner," Batman told Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara proudly. "We'll head back to the Batcave in order to ponder this Weather Master's strategy. Rain or shine, I have a duty to the good people of Gotham City."

"Let's freeze the Weather Master's plans!" Bonnie grinned as the trio ran out of Commissioner Gordon's office.

Meanwhile, at the apartment of Barbara Gordon…

Barbara Gordon sat on a couch in her living room, reading a newspaper. She flipped through its pages and combed through its pictures.

"Interesting," Barbara Gordon told herself quietly, pointing at one page. "I knew that this Weather Master character looked familiar. It says here that his real name is Morris Waggner, an estranged meteorologist who started at Gotham State University and was ostracized from the scientific community for his wild weather theories, such as being able to control clouds and the ability to spawn tornadoes."

Barbara's parrot, Charlie, squawked as she placed the newspaper down and walked towards her bedroom.

"Not now, Charlie," Barbara said, gently chastising him. "If my theory is correct, I think I know where I need to go in order to stop this Weather Master." Barbara walked over to her changing area and flipped a switch, where the wall flipped around to reveal her Batgirl costume on the other side. In the blink of an eye, she put it on and walked through a secret door next to it, rushing out of her apartment on her purple Batcycle.

As Barbara Gordon was in her apartment, the Mystique Maiden yawned and got out of the Batmobile, following Batman and Robin over to the Giant Lighted Lucite Map of Gotham City located in a corner of the Batcave. Once they were standing next to it, Batman picked up an orange marker.

"First is Gotham Park," Batman spoke, drawing a dot over the spot of Gotham Park on the map. "Gotham Lake…" Batman drew another dot over Gotham Lake. "Then, Gotham Times Square." Another dot on the map.

"Is it just me or is the Weather Master drawing one crazy oval?" the Mystique Maiden joked, taking the marker from Batman. "Look-then there's Gotham Dunes and East Evergreen Street." As the junior crime-fighter said each of these locations, she too drew an orange dot on each of them. She drew a line connecting each of the dots to each other, and once she was done, it formed an oval with one red dot in the center.

"Holy ovoid," Robin blurted out. "She's right, Batman!"

"Well done, Mystique Maiden," Batman complimented. "That red dot in the center—that's the abandoned Gotham Weather Institute—the perfect location for that Meteorologist of Mayhem to hide out in the middle of all this wacky weather. To the Batmobile!"

Meanwhile, at the abandoned Gotham Weather Institute…

In the Gotham Weather Institute, the Weather Master was with his moll named Wendy, as well as his henchmen Sonny, Stormy, and Frosty. They were in a high-tech room filled with equipment, a table, and chairs, and the Weather Master had his machine on the table while he gloated over his plans. Sonny, Stormy, and Frosty all wore shirts after their namesake—Sonny wore orange clothing with cartoonish sun drawings, Stormy wore grey clothing with images of grey clouds and lightning stitched throughout, and Frosty wore blue clothing with snowflakes. Wendy wore an outfit with images of a stereotypical chicken weather vane spread throughout.

"Only those with cloudy minds would dare question a genius plan such as mine, boys," the Weather Master chuckled as his group circled around him. "Demanding five million dollars, or Gotham City gets a storm they'll never forget." The Weather Master smirked and gently caressed the machine which he had during the robbery of Woodrow Roosevelt High School.

"But Clayface tried to force a ransom, Weather Master," Sonny told him. "And so did many other of Batman's arch-criminals."

"Ah, but they didn't have the advantage of my weather-making machine," the Weather Master said with a glint in his eyes. "With just the push of a button, I could wipe out Clayface with a rain storm if I wanted to."

The Weather Master turned away from the table and began pacing around the room.

"Either way, the ransom isn't the point," he remarked. "This city laughed at me once, but they won't laugh at me anymore. We all know, boys, that once a villain gets defeated by Batman and Robin—say, fellow geniuses like Egghead or Killer Moth—they always bounce back. Even if I get that ransom and are defeated by the Caped Crusaders, like the water cycle, I will return. I will show this city who's in charge."

"Then why even ask for the ransom, Morris?" Wendy asked.

"Because, Wendy," the Weather Master chuckled, adjusting his goggles, "seeing Gotham on its knees gives me control. It gives me pleasure knowing that I've finally gotten everything that I've always wanted. Now I control the forecast, and Gotham City's at my mercy."

Batman parked the Batmobile next to the Gotham Weather Institute, followed by Batgirl with her Batcycle. The Gotham Weather Institute, despite being abandoned, was shining in Gotham's sunlight, and equipment was on top of its roof.

"Holy Sherlock Holmes," Robin quipped, jumping over the Batmobile's door as Batman and the Mystique Maiden followed. "You came to the same conclusion too, eh Batgirl?"

"It appears so, Robin," Batgirl replied. "It took just a bit of detective work on my end."

"Ours too, Batgirl," Batman replied, reaching into his utility belt. "Look—there's an open window on the third floor. The Bat-Rope should be able to reach it."

Batman pulled out a Bat-Rope, then tossed it up towards the open window. After stepping back to confirm that it stuck, Batman jumped on the side of the Weather Institute, followed by Robin, the Mystique Maiden, and Batgirl.

"You know," Batgirl remarked as the Fantastic Foursome continued their climb, "I must admit that I've never actually done a Bat-Climb before."

"You'll get used to it," the Mystique Maiden told her. "It helps with exercise, that's for sure."

The climb continued, then suddenly, a window on the side of the building opened up.

"Oh, dear!" exclaimed a man in a tuxedo. "I may be a weatherman, but I didn't expect it to be cloudy with a chance of Batman!"

"Carry on, citizen," Batman told him stoically. "We're merely going after a dangerous criminal as part of our efforts to keep Gotham City safe."

As the foursome walked next to the window, the weatherman called up, "Have you ever considered auditioning for Gotham Weather?"

The Fantastic Foursome reached the window, then paused. Looking inside, they saw the Weather Master finishing his monologue with his henchmen and Wendy.

"The forecast, Stormy," smirked the Weather Master turning towards the open window, "will be cloudy with a chance of damsels and Bat-vermin."

Batman and company walked through the window and stood defiantly in front of the Master of Meteorology.

"You mean you knew we were coming, Weather Master?" the Mystique Maiden asked in shock.

"Or should I say, Morris Waggner," Batgirl added, her hands on her hips. "If I were you, I'd give it up before you're blown away by the winds of justice."

"Who do you think it was that opened the window in the first place?" the Weather Master chuckled. "I've learned enough from your gallery of rogues to know what happens next. I have led you to your doom. Boys, show those has-been heroes the power of the winds of crime!"

"We'll give 'em a chilly reception, boss," Frosty smirked, bending his knees and hoisting his arms to his side in position as a Bat-Fight quickly began. Before it got too chaotic, the Weather Master grabbed his machine from the table in the room and snuck off to a corner.

Frosty punched at Robin, but he ducked out of the way and punched him in the chest. He groaned and stepped backwards in an attempt to catch his breath.

COLD-KIX!

Batgirl jumped on a table and kicked Sonny, who stumbled backwards into Stormy. Before they could attack further, the two henchmen went after Batman, who made quick work of Stormy by punching him in the face. Stormy fell backwards into the table, then got back up to go after the Mystique Maiden.

BARO-BAM!

While the foursome was busy with the fight, Wendy snuck over by Weather Master.

"Shouldn't we get out of here, Morris?" Wendy whispered.

"Patience, my dear Wendy," the Weather Master replied, looking down at his machine and caressing it once again. "We're not defeated yet. Let's up the pressure for the Dynamic Dullards, shall we?"

The Weather Master chuckled then pressed a button on his machine labelled, "ACTIVATE HAILSTORM."

"Hehehe," the Weather Master smirked. "And now, the fun begins."

The wind began to pick up in the Gotham Weather Institute, then the temperature slowly started to drop. That was when hailstones began to rain down on the Fantastic Foursome and the Weather Master's henchmen. The hailstones got progressively larger and harder as the fight kept moving along.

"Holy hail!" Robin exclaimed, ducking a hailstone that Sonny threw at him. "This Bat-Fight's turned into an ice fight!"

"Watch out, Robin!" the Mystique Maiden cried, jumping in front of Robin and looking back at him with a slight smile. Robin looked in front of him as he watched a hailstone hit the Mystique Maiden in the chest.

HAIL-HIT!

"Mystique Maiden!" Robin gasped, and she gripped her stomach tightly before promptly dodging a punch from Stormy.

"This is where the forecast says 'enough'!" Robin said firmly, punching Stormy in the chest as Batman punched Frosty.

STORM-SLAP!

"I quite agree, Robin," the Weather Master remarked, pressing a button on his machine that said, "HAILSTORM DEACTIVATION." Once he pressed it, the wind slowed, the hailstones stopped, and the room grew quieter. The Weather Master gave a light chuckle and closed the window that the foursome had entered from.

"There's no escape for you," the Weather Master said, pushing up his goggles. "And with that fight made to wear you down, I doubt that you'll be coming after us…if you know what's good for you."

The Weather Master pressed another button on his machine—this one labelled "ACTIVATE TWISTER." The Weather Master's gang quickly stood up and walked by their boss, followed by Wendy. The five villains walked over by a door at the far end of the room.

"They say there's no place like home," the Weather Master smiled, "so it's time for you to meet your maker."

Once again the wind began to pick up as the Weather Master and his crew opened the door and peeked their heads at the heroes. A twister started to form in the center of the room as they tried to rush at the door, but the Weather Master quickly closed the door and locked it behind them.

Holy storm spirals! Trapped in a twister, will the Fantastic Foursome escape the Weather Master's storm of wrath? The answer to these and other twisting questions—stay tuned tomorrow! Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

Author's Note: That's part 1! What did you think? I had a lot of fun writing the Weather Master, so I hope that you enjoyed reading him! As usual, feel free to review or leave a favorite, and stay tuned for part 2!

Until then,

Gabe S. :)

Chapter Text

The foursome’s eyes darted around the room as they desperately searched for a way to escape. The Mystique Maiden tried to open the door that the Weather Master went through, but the doorknob refused to budge.

“It’s locked, Batman!” the Mystique Maiden cried.

“What’ll we do now, Batman?” Robin asked uneasily.

Batman eyed the control panels in one corner of the room as the twister swirled towards them. One label caught his eye: “VENT OPENING.”

“We have only one chance,” Batman explained. “Twisters are formed by a very delicate atmospheric balance of hot and cold air. By opening the vents, we might cause the twister to lose its shape.”

Batman pressed the button, and everyone watched as the twister began to slowly lose its funnel shape and become weaker. Its size also decreased, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“But how will we get rid of it, Batman?” Batgirl asked curiously. “We can’t just leave a tiny twister in the middle of a building.”

“My Bat-Bomb should do the trick,” Batman responded as he reached into his utility belt and pulled out a black spherical object. With a hopeful grunt, Batman thrust the Bat-Bomb on the ground at the twister. It exploded in a cloud of dust, and so did the remainder of the twister. As the dust cleared, Batman dusted off his gloves and hurried over to the window. He opened up the window and said, “We must hurry. Something tells me that the Weather Master isn’t quite done with his ferocious forecast.”

Meanwhile, in Gotham State University…

In Gotham State University, within the office of a certain Professor Linseed, the esteemed teacher was sitting at his desk and grading papers while humming to himself. Professor Linseed was of medium height and had a brown beard. He was wearing a black and white suit. A knock was heard at his door, and Professor Linseed said, “Come in!”

The door opened, and Professor Linseed gasped. Standing in front of him was none other than the Weather Master and his crew. The Weather Master was smiling and holding his weather-making machine tucked underneath one arm.

“What are you doing here, Morris?” Professor Linseed asked sternly.

“I’m here to make a deal,” chuckled the Weather Master, patting his machine like it was a newborn babe. “Either you and the rest of the faculty declare me to be the university’s genius and pay me five millions dollars, or I unleash my weather all around Gotham State University. Just imagine the collateral damage, hmm?”

“And, may I ask, why are you asking us?” Professor Linseed asked.

“You laughed at my theories,” the Weather Master stated, his voice rising in tone. “You tried to discredit my thesis on atomic thunder displacement. Who’s laughing now, Lewis? You have until noon…or brace yourself for climate catastrophe.”

At this, the Weather Master and his goons turned around and left his office, leaving Professor Linseed in a state of confusion.

After exiting the window of the Gotham Weather Institute, Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and the Mystique Maiden rushed to their respective vehicles when the portable Bat-Phone in the trunk of the Batmobile suddenly went off.

“Yes, Commissioner?” Batman spoke into the phone.

“Batman,” Commissioner Gordon said at the other end of the line. “We just received a call from Professor Linseed at Gotham State University. He stated that the Weather Master threatened the faculty with a ransom by noon…or else he’ll unleash his weather across the campus.”

“Where’s Professor Linseed now?” Batman asked.

“Still at the university, Batman,” Commissioner Gordon replied. “I could call him if you’d like.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Batman told him. “I’ll head over there shortly.”

Batman hung up the portable Bat-Phone.

“Did you say…‘Professor Linseed’?” the Mystique Maiden asked.

“I did,” Batman said. “It appears that the Weather Master is eager to use him and the rest of the university as a target for one of his twisted schemes.”

The Mystique Maiden gasped.

“He’s my dad,” the Mystique Maiden said, her voice lowering to a whisper.

“Crime fighting often takes one into rather…uncomfortable positions in life,” Batman told her as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Including the involvement of those one holds dearest.”

“You’re right, Batman,” the Mystique Maiden agreed, looking up at the Bright Knight. She attempted to restrain a smile. “Those death traps are far from comfortable.”

“That’s the spirit,” Batman encouraged her, running towards the driving seat of the Batmobile. “Now…let’s go!”

“Oh boy!” Robin smiled as he and the Mystique Maiden sat in their respective seats. “We’re off to see the Weather Master!”

On the campus of Gotham State University, the Weather Master and his goons were hiding out behind a cluster of plants.

“It’s almost noon, Morris,” Wendy told her boss. “And still no sign of that ransom.”

“Their loss, Wendy,” the Weather Master chuckled, pushing up his glasses. “The forecast now calls for campus carnage, hehe.”

“But look!” Stormy exclaimed, pointing in the distance. “There’s a sign we don’t wanna see!”

The gang of thieves slithered deeper into the cluster of plants as the Batmobile, followed by the Batcycle, pulled into the campus.

“How could they have survived your twister?” Frosty asked.

“Never mind that,” the Weather Master replied. “What matters is the present. And even with those Caped Clods on the scene, Gotham State University will be no match for my next weather disaster!”

While the Weather Master schemed, Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and the Mystique Maiden got out of their vehicles (with Robin jumping over the Batmobile’s door) and rushed towards the campus.

The foursome ran towards the entrance of the university, then once inside, fast-walked towards Professor Linseed’s office. Batman knocked on the door, and they were greeted by the startled professor himself.

“Come in, come in,” the Professor said, and he closed the door behind him. “I’ll tell you everything!”

Professor Linseed told the foursome about his encounter with the Weather Master, and they listened carefully, with Batman occasionally giving a small nod as he was speaking.

“Holy pressure,” Robin exclaimed, punching into his hand. “We have no time to lose!”

“But we don’t even know where the Weather Master is,” Batgirl remarked. “Surely he wouldn’t return to his old hideout after we discovered it.”

“Knowing his grudge against the university,” Batman remarked, “I believe that he must be somewhere on campus, waiting and gloating for the opportunity to strike with his twisted weather.”

“But where, Batman?” the Mystique Maiden asked.

“There is no doubt in my mind that he will show his face when the time is right,” Batman remarked. “Almost as if he’s watching our every move like the twisted meteorologist that he is.”

Suddenly, a knock was heard on the door of Professor Linseed’s office, and a faculty member quickly ran inside.

“Professor!” he exclaimed. “You’ll never believe it!”

“What is it, Burt?” Professor Linseed asked.

“There’s a snowstorm on campus!” Burt exclaimed. “All students are currently being rushed indoors.”

“There’s our cue,” Batgirl said.

“We must hurry before it’s too late,” Batman remarked. “Excuse us, Professor.”

Batman and the rest of the heroes quickly ran out of the office. As she was exiting and closing the door behind them, the Mystique Maiden caught sight of a framed photo on the Professor’s desk—a picture showing the two of them smiling underneath the branches of a sprawling apple tree. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried to catch up with the others.

The Mystique Maiden caught up with Batman, Robin, and Batgirl, and together, they rushed towards the entrance of Gotham State University. As they opened the doors and ran outside, the group shielded their faces due to a swirling wind that was flying across the campus.

“Holy blizzards!” Robin and the Mystique Maiden cried out at the same time.

“Why, one would almost think that you’re twins, you two,” Batgirl smirked as they made their way across the campus. Then she shouted through the blizzard, “I think I know where the Weather Master is hiding out!”

“Lead the way, Batgirl!” Batman replied.

As they were running through the ever-increasing snowstorm, Batgirl continued: “Behind the meteorology building is an abandoned greenhouse that Morris used to conduct his weather experiments in during the 40’s. I discovered that during my research.”

“Don’t let Poison Ivy know about that,” Robin chuckled. The foursome continued through the snowstorm as snow and frost hit their cheeks. A fountain in the center of the courtyard was frozen solid, and several students were pushing against the wind as they attempted to make it to the nearest building for shelter. Making their way through the campus, Robin watched as the Mystique Maiden discreetly gripped her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” Robin asked quietly, walking over to the Mystique Maiden.

“I’m still standing, aren’t I?” the Mystique Maiden said, a small smile forming on the corner of her mouth. “That hail still smarts, though.”

Robin put one arm around her back and smiled. “Thanks again…Mystique Maiden. You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

“I know,” the Mystique Maiden replied, “but I saw someone—you—in trouble, and I knew that I needed to act. I don’t know what I’d do if I allowed you to get hurt.”

Robin gently rubbed the Mystique Maiden’s pained shoulder.

“It’s bruised,” he said. “Once this is all over, you should take a long, long rest underneath a blanket.”

“Only if you’re there too,” the Mystique Maiden smiled.

Batman cocked his head slightly, looking at them out of the corner of his eyes.

“Robin, Mystique Maiden…” he called back to them, “remind me to have us all a meeting in the Batcave once we stop the Weather Master.”

“Will do, Batman,” Robin and the Mystique Maiden said at the same time. They stared at each other in confusion before Batgirl snapped them out of their thoughts.

“Speaking of over,” Batgirl pointed, “look! We’re coming up to the greenhouse. It’s time to end Morris Waggner’s malicious weather mayhem.”

Everyone looked where Batgirl was pointing, and they saw a greenhouse in the distance, its roof covered with snow. Pushing their way through the storm, the Fantastic Foursome walked up to the greenhouse and stood in front of the door.

Despite it being abandoned, the frosted glass of the greenhouse was almost too clean, and the Weather Master, Wendy, and his gang could be seen inside, laughing to themselves. Morris Waggner was holding his box-shaped machine. Batman and everyone opened the door, and humid air breezed past them. The greenhouse looked lived in, with potted plants on tables, bags of seed scattered throughout it, and various equipment of the Weather Master on a table in the center of it. The Weather Master smirked as he looked at the four heroes.

“So, you’ve finally arrived,” he chuckled, pushing up his goggles, “and it only took a snowstorm to make it happen. Boys, brave through the eye of the storm and end this once and for all.”

“Now’s our time to shine,” Sonny said, stepping forward as a Bat-Fight began.

Our heroes stepped forward as well, and Robin deftly dodged a punch from Stormy. The Boy Wonder got the upper hand as he punched the henchman in the face, causing him to fall down and stumble backwards.

PRESSURE-POW!

Next up was Batgirl, who kicked Sonny in the chin, and he fell back into a rose bush.

WEATHER-WHAM!

Frosty punched at Batman, and Batman moved his head out of the way, dodging it with precision. He tried again, only for the Bright Knight to punch him in the chest.

BLIMP-BANG!

Putting the pain from her shoulder aside, the Mystique Maiden grabbed a watering can and threw it at Stormy’s face, causing him to become startled and soaked in water. Robin used the opportunity to punch Stormy down, and he laid on the floor in pain.

SPLISH-SPLAT!

“It’s time to plant some seeds of goodness in here,” the Mystique Maiden quipped, running towards a bag of seeds. Wincing, she opened it up, then pushed it to the floor, causing seeds to roll along the floor of the greenhouse. “Seeds ahoy!” she shouted. The Weather Master’s henchmen stepped on the seed, and as they rolled around, they were tossed to the ground.

SEED-SLAM!

“Wanna dance, Boy Wonder?” she smiled.

“Boy, do I!” Robin grinned back. They gripped hands, using the seeds on the floor to spin in circles to gain momentum. When Frosty attempted to punch them, the Mystique Maiden ducked, followed by Robin giving him a kick in the chin.

CYCLONE-SPLATT!

As the Weather Master’s henchmen started to dwindle during the fight, Wendy whispered to him, as they were standing in a corner of the greenhouse.

“We’re getting clobbered, Morris,” she whispered, watching as Batman swung from a vine to kick Sonny in the chest. He fell onto the seeds on the floor, and then struggled to stand back up.

“Not to worry, Wendy,” the Weather Master replied, beads of sweat falling down his face. “I calculate a win in a future forecast. Probably not this one, though.”

“Can I join you in it, please?” Wendy asked.

“Of course, Wendy,” the Weather Master replied. “You help defog my mind, you know.”

“Anything to help, Morris,” Wendy told him. The two of them watched as Batgirl jumped on a table and kicked Frosty to the floor, where he landed on top of Sonny.

SUNNY-SOCK!

“Give it up, Weather Master,” Batgirl announced, walking towards the twisted scientist.

“The forecast is looking grim for you,” the Mystique Maiden chuckled.

“How ever did you best my genius, Batman?’ the Weather Master asked.

“Because,” Batman replied, “criminals may make the sky grey for some time, but justice always lives for the sun.”

“Hey,” the Mystique Maiden said, turning to face Batgirl. “It was nice working with you, Batg—”

When she blinked, however, Batgirl had completely vanished without her noticing. Robin put a hand on her shoulder.

“...Batgirl?” the Mystique Maiden questioned.

“You’ll get used to it,” Robin smiled out of the corner of his mouth. “It happens all the time with her.” As campus security entered the greenhouse to take Morris Waggner into custody, Robin told his girlfriend, “Now, let’s get you that blanket. That and prepare ourselves for that meeting Batman wants to do. I wonder what he wants to talk about.”

“Something tells me that it’ll involve a little whiff of Bat-Sleep,” the Mystique Maiden giggled.

“Let’s get that shoulder some rest, shall we…Mystique Maiden?” Batman asked, looking down on the two young heroes with a gleam in his eyes. “But first…” he smiled, patting his utility belt, “it’s time for a little trip to the Batcave.”

Robin and the Mystique Maiden looked at each other and grinned, and the three heroes walked to the Batmobile.

The sun was setting as everyone settled down in the Batcave. Only Batman, Robin, the Mystique Maiden, and Alfred were awake. All four of them were sitting down at a table in the middle of the room next to the Batcomputer, and Batman had a stoic look on his face.

“What would you like to talk about, Batman?” Robin asked curiously.

“The reason that I organized this talk,” Batman remarked, “is because I wanted to talk about something from our battle with the Weather Master earlier today.”

He paused, and his eyes glinted at Robin and the Mystique Maiden.

“Miss Linseed, what you did with Robin today was nothing short of heroic,” he remarked, his lips curling into a slight smile. “You put your life on the line for Robin, just as I would.”

“It was nothing, really,” the Mystique Maiden shrugged. “I just did what I thought was right.”

“And that’s what makes you a true hero,” Batman replied. “As ones gone before us once said: ‘Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ And you did that beautifully.”

“Quite so,” Alfred remarked. “If I may add something, I’ve noticed a huge change come upon Master Dick since he met Miss Linseed. He’s become more youthful, more vulnerable, and most importantly, full of more humility than ever before.”

“Gosh, Alfred,” Robin gasped. “Do you really mean it?”

A spark appeared in the center of the butler’s eyes. “I do, Master Robin.”

Dick fidgeted in his seat and gripped the hand of his lover.

“There’s one other reason I gathered you all down here,” Bruce continued. “Take off your masks.”

Silence engulfed the Batcave as Batman removed his cowl. Robin and the Mystique Maiden couldn’t move, and once again the Wayne’s lips curled into a slight smile with a gleam in his eyes. Their mouths were agape, and Robin followed his mentor by removing his domino mask, followed by the Mystique Maiden with hers.

“It doesn’t take a World’s Greatest Detective to see that you know who I am, Miss Linseed.”

“But, I—” Bonnie and Dick began at the same time, but Bruce put his hands up.

“I’m not mad at either of you,” Bruce told them. He looked at Dick.

“Dick,” he said, “you didn’t tell Bonnie out of pride. You told her your identity out of vulnerability and trust. Undoubtedly during the brief tenure in which you retired. I have no doubt that you felt alone and unwanted, and you felt that Bonnie was the only one that you could turn to. One could hardly blame you for what you did.”

“Bruce…” Dick sighed, his voice wavering. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be,” Bruce stated with a firmness in his voice. “I’m going to caution you to be careful about our little secret, of course, but I will make it clear that you told it to the right one.”

“You really mean it?” Bonnie asked innocently.

“Master Bruce never says something that he doesn’t mean, Miss Linseed,” Alfred replied, covering her hand in his. “I give you my word.”

“Alfred’s right, Bonnie,” Bruce continued. “I’m not angry. Far from it. What I mean is that not everyone can handle the work that crime-fighting brings, nor the responsibility of keeping such a big secret to themselves. I know from experience that most wouldn’t. But you, Miss Linseed, are wise beyond your years.”

“My father once told me, ‘He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind.’” Bonnie answered him. “I’ve tried to take that to heart.”

“And you clearly have,” Bruce replied. “The identity of Batman and Robin is one of the best kept secrets in the world. And you’ve kept it wonderfully.” He stopped to breathe in. “But now…”

Bonnie looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“...Miss Linseed, I want you to promise me something,” Bruce said, looking her in the eye. “Do you promise that you won’t reveal our identities as long as you live?”

“I promise, Mr. Wayne.”

“And do you solemnly swear that no matter what happens—even if a villain attempts to use you—that you won’t say a single word to them about our true identities?”

Bonnie locked Bruce firmly in the eyes. “I swear that I’ll protect your secret with my life.”

Bruce stared at Bonnie, his lips once again curling to form a slight smile. “Good. Welcome to the Bat-Family, Mystique Maiden.”

With a smile, the four of them stood up. Dick and Bonnie wrapped around each other lightly, and Alfred stood on Bonnie’s other side and gripped her hand.

“No Bat-Sleep, Mr. Wayne?” Bonnie asked Bruce, turning to face him.

“Not this time,” Bruce told her. “Miss Linseed, you’ve earned this moment. Enjoy it.”

Bonnie squeezed Dick’s hand, and they looked at each other with encouraging smiles. Together, they walked to the Batpoles and Batcave service elevator, ready for a good night’s sleep and sweet dreams.